August 29 - 31, 2013

July 15 - 16, 2013

Books

Snitch

On the streets of Jersey City there is a simple code. You don’t talk to the cops. You don’t snitch. Period. But when young bus driver Andre Bolden witnesses a crime on his route, he is compelled to make a choice. If he keeps silent, he might lose his job and be gnawed by his conscience. If he snitches, he could lose his family—even his life.

This explosive story explores the clash between a working man and the code of the street. Gifted storyteller Booker T. Mattison has crafted a realistic tale full of tension and raw suspense yet infused with spiritual truth. Snitch rewrites the rule to mind your own business, peers into the hearts of those who seek revenge and redemption, and celebrates the ability of a community to triumph over violence and intimidation.

"Snitch absorbed me to the point that I felt my life and the lives of my family were at stake. It's just that good. Snitch should be required reading for anyone with a pulse and a conscience." —Lisa Cortés, executive producer of the Academy Award–winning film Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, Shadowboxer, and The Woodsman.

"Amazing—down to the last line. Bravo!"—Victoria Christopher Murray, Essence bestselling author of The Ex Files; Too Little, Too Late; Lady Jasmine; and Sins of the Mother

"Captivating from start to finish. Snitch is a compelling tale about the psychic turmoil of upholding the code of the streets. Booker T. Mattison deftly interweaves psychological themes of depression, anxiety, and PTSD with the harsh realities of black urban street life."—Kevin Cokley, PhD, editor-in-chief, the Journal of Black Psychology; associate professor of counseling and psychology, University of Texas, Austin

"Wow. Good stuff. I loved the interconnectedness of every character and the powerful, fresh, black male characters effecting positive change in the neighborhood. It reads like a movie."—Stephanie Allain Bray, producer of the Academy Award–winning film Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan, and We the Peeples

"Mattison turns a mirror on our community and takes an unflinching look at who we are. Gratefully, he doesn't stop there, because the characters in Snitch also show us what we will become—for better or for worse—in a world of change. Full of suspense that happens organically, Snitch will keep you on edge and will live in your head long after you’ve turned the last page."—Terrie M. Williams, author of Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting; cofounder and president of the Stay Strong Foundation

Unsigned HYPE

Unsigned Hype is the story of Tory Tyson a teenaged music prodigy. A classically trained pianist who is more interested in making beats than playing Bach. And a victory in the Unsigned Hype demo contest will give him exactly what he wants out of life – a successful music career. But can Tory handle the fame and fortune that he seeks?

"This debut novel has an authentic voice, taking readers into the world of New York City hip-hop through the wide eyes of a kid who's still refreshingly innocent…readers will come to love the characters who mentor him along the way..." -Publisher’s Weekly

"Firmly rooted in hip-hop lore, it will have huge appeal for urban teens." -Library Journal

"This story is long overdue. It shows that even bad neighborhoods can produce good things.
Tory keeps it real, but he also keeps it right."—Robert Teitel, producer, Soul Food, the Barbershop series, and Notorious